Questions for Book Club Discussion
- Which of the two sisters did you relate to most, Lexie or Annie? Were there any characters in the story you didn’t like?
- The story deals extensively with Annie’s addiction and the consequences of it for her personally, as well as for her sister and daughter. Did you feel this was a realistic portrayal?
- Did the story challenge your perspective on addiction in any way? How do you see things differently?
- Over the lifetime of her relationship with Annie, Lexie makes countless decisions to try to help her sister. Would you have made the same decisions? Where is the line between supporting and enabling?
- Do you think addicts are entirely responsible for their addiction? What role, if any, does childhood trauma such as Annie’s play?
- How did you feel Luke’s role helped or hindered Annie’s recovery? Did you see him as a positive or negative influence?
- The laws referenced through the novel are enforced in a number of US states. How do you feel about the criminalization of substance abuse in pregnancy? Were you aware of these laws before reading Before I Let You Go?
- Do you think the author dealt with such a contentious issue in a balanced way?
- Which scene in Before I Let You Go affected you the most, and why?
- If you have siblings, did this story make you think about your own relationship with them? What stood out for you in terms of how we deal with family issues?
- Robert is generally made out to be a violent man, and yet throughout Annie’s adult life he helped try to get her well. How do you reconcile the two sides to his character?
- Were you satisfied with the ending? Did the story end as you expected or did you envision a different resolution for the sisters? Do you think Annie’s outcome was inevitable?
- Who would you recommend Before I Let You Go to?